Closure



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UNITED stares PATENT ore Heil The present invention relates in generalto immap24 nos CLO SURE Frederick G. Thwaits, Wauwatosa, and Russelllltieboldt, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to The Co., Milwaukee, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin n Application June 27, 1935, Serial No. V28,596

15 Claims.

provements in the construction and operation of closures for theinspection openings of receptacles such as tanks.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved closure which issimple and compact in construction, and which is cient in operation anduse.

Another object `of the inventio an improved manhole cover for moreoverhighly ellin is to provide metal tanks or the like, which can beconveniently removed to permit inspection of the tank interior, butwhich is capable of i being firmly locked tion.

in closed posi- A further object of the invention is to provide animproved latch mechanism for the manhole closures of tank structures,which is durable in construction and readily manipulable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved manholeand blage which is especially adapted closure assemfor application tovehiculartanks for transporting and dispensing liquids such as oil andgasolin release mechanism.`

` Another object of the inventio n is to provide a vented closureassembly for the upper inspecp tion openings of tanks, which ca turedand installed at moderate. cost, and which is especially adapted toaugment the streamlined appearance of vehicular tanks.

n be manufac- These and other objects and advantages will be apparentfrom the following detailed description.

A clear conception of an emb odiment of the present invention, and ofthe mode of constructing and of manipulating manhol e closures builtA inaccordance with the improvement, may -be hadvby referring to thedrawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein plike reference characters designate similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of the improved closure assembly looking at thesame from tank,`and showing the latch bar thereof in clamp,-

ing position;

within the Fig. 2 is a transverse `Vertical section throughtheassemblage of Fig. .1, taken along the irregular line 2 04, andlikewise sho bar in clamping position;

wing the latch the same or (ol. 22o- 57) Fig. 3 is a longitudinalcentral vertical section through the closure assemblage of Fig. 1`,taken along the line 3-3 and again showing the latch bar in clampingposition;

Fig. 4 is another bottom view of the closure assembly, showing the latchbar swung into released position; y `j Fig. 5 is a transverse verticalsection `through the assemblage of Fig. 4, taken along the irregularline 5 5, showing the latch bar released and also showing the closurecover in dot-and-dash lines swung into partially opened position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryv sectional view of a detail of the closurestructure, the section beingn taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is another fragmentarysectional view of a detail of the improvedclosure, the section having been taken along the line l-l of Fig. 2.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as beingspecifically applied to a vehicular tank manhole or inspectionA openingclosure, it is not the intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict thescope, since some of the improved features maybe advantageouslyapplicable. to other types of closure assemblages.v

Referring to the drawings, the sheet metal re-v ceptacle or tank lu isprovided with an upper substantially elliptical opening'` which isbounded by an upwardly projecting flange l I, and this flange IIprovides a support for a sheet metal manhole frame I2 having an annularseating I3 with which a closure plate Iyisadaptecl to coact. The flangeII may be formed integral with the shell of the tank I0, and has aflanged element I5 rigidly attached thereto as by welding; and the frameI2 has a peripheral depending apron which projects downwardly over theflange I I, and is detachably secured to the element I5 by means ofbolts and nuts I6. The upstanding annular seating I3 which is formedintegral with the' frame l2, has an inwardly turned or beaded seatingportion Y which materially strengthens and stiifens the seating I3, andwith which the sealing ring I 'I of the closure plate i4 is adapted tocoact so as to produce tight sealing. z

The closure plate I4 mayalso beformed` of sheet metal, and is swingablysupported upon the seating I3 of the frame I2 by means of parallel linksI8 the swinging ends of which are attached to lugs on the plate I4 by apivot pin I9, and the opposite ends of which are likewise attached tobrackets lon the frame I2 by a pivot pin 2U. 'I'hese links I8 and thepivot pin 2t permit' the closure plate I4 to be swung bodily toward andaway from the seating I3, andthe pivot pin I9 also permits the plate I4to be swung relative to the links IB. The central portion of the closureplate I4 is provided with a rigid bearing sleeve 2| within which a shaft22 is rotatably and slidably confined, and the lower extremity of theshaft 22 carries a latch bar actuator 23 while the upper shaft end issecured to a combined housing and latch actuating member 24. Both thelatch actuator 23 and the member 24 are rigidly attached to the shaft 22so that both of these elements partake of either rotary or axialmovement of the shaft; and the cover or housing member 24 which may alsobe formed of sheet metal, normally conceals the closure plate I4 and itshinge, and is preferably provided with radial external gripping portions25 for facilitating rotation of the shaft 22 and swinging of the closureplate I4 about its pivot pins I9, 20.

The portion of the shaft 22 located above the cover plate I4 is embracedby a coil spring 26 one end of which bears against the housing member 24and the opposite end of which reacts against a sealing ring coactingwith the sleeve 2l, and the portion of the shaft 22 disposed on theopposite side of the plate I4 is likewise embraced by another coilspring 21 one end of which bears directly against a latch bar 28 and theopposite end of which also reacts against the sleeve 2l. These springs26, 21 oppose each other, and the upper spring 26 merely serves toprevent leakage while the lower spring 21 functions to facilitateactuation of the latch bar 28 which is carried by a bracket 29 slidablymounted upon the medial portion of the shaft 22. The latch bar 23 andthe bracket 29 are secured to each other, and are thereforesimultaneously slidable upon and movable to a limited extent about theaxis of the shaft 22, and the bracket 29 has depending lugs 3D which areconstantly maintained in contact with the latch actuator 23 by thespring 2-1. The actuator 23 has oppositely disposed helical surfaces 3iand notches 32 which are adapted to engage the adjacent lugs 30 of thebracket 29 in a manner which will be described later. The extreme endsof the latch bar 28 are cooperable with sccketed members 33 secured tothe seating I3 of the frame I2, to lock the closure plate I4 in closedposition; and the plate I4 carries a latch stop 34 which is adapted tolimit the angular displacement of the latch bar 28 about the shaft 22when the bar has been released from the members 33.

The cover plate I4 may also be provided with vent valves 35, 35 of usualconstruction as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, but these valves constituteno part of the present invention. One or both of the socketed members 33may be provided with a measuring gage 31 as shown in dot-and-dash linesin Fig. '1, for determining the quantity of liquid within the tank I0,but this gage mechanism is optional. The entire assemblage may befinished or decorated to present a highly attractive appearance, and themanhole frame I2 may be disposed either longitudinally or transverselyof the tank I0.

When the latch bar 28 is in clamping position as illustrated in Figs. 1,2, 3, and 7, the opposite ends thereof are snugly confined within thesockets of the members 33 and the lugs 3! of the bracket 29 are disposedwithin the notches 32 of the latch actuator 23 so that the inner spring21 is substantially compressed while the outer spring 26 is expanded.The sealing ring I1 is then pressed into snug engagement with theannular Heating I3 of the manhole frame I2, and is firmly locked in thisposition both by the socketed members 33 and the notches 32.

If it becomes desirable to open the manhole, it is only necessary tograsp the gripping portions 25 and to simultaneously revolve the housingmember 24, shaft 22, and latch actuator 23, so as to cause the notches32 to move out of engagement with the lugs 30. The compressed spring 21will subsequently become effective to cause the lugs to slide downwardlyalong the helical surfaces 3| during continued rotation of the actuator23, thereby permitting the spring 21 to force the extreme ends of thelatch bar 28 out of the sockets in the fixed members 33. Furtherrotation of the actuator 23 by the member 24, will thereafter beimparted to the bar 23 through the bracket 29, and will cause the latchbar 28 which has previously been released from the sockets in themembers 33, to swing and ride along the stop 34 to the position shown inFigs. 4, 5, and 6, thus positively interrupting the rotation of themember 24 and shaft 22, and unlocking the cover. The gripping portions25 may thereafter be utilized to swing the closure plate I4 open asindicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 5, this swinging being permittedby the links I8 and the pivot pins I9, 29.

The manhole cover may obviously be closed by merely reversing theopening operations, and locking of the closed cover may be effected byutilizing the gripping portions to rotate the shaft 22 and actuator 23in the opposite direction. When the actuator is thus rotated, thehelical surfaces 3| are forced beneath the lugs 3D of the bracket 29,thus acting as wedges to force the latch bar toward the closure plate I4after the end of the bar has been swung clear of the stop 34, andcompressing the spring 21. As the closing rotation of the member 24 iscontinued, the lugs 3) eventually snap into the notches 32 and the endsof the latch bar 23 simultaneously enter the sockets of the members 33,whereupon the spring 21 again becomes effective to lock the closure insealed position. During such opening and closing of the manhole cover,the outer spring 26 merely serves to restrain the action of the innerspring 21 and to hold the latch bar 28 in position against the stop 34when the latch is released. An important feature of the presentimprovement, is the provision of means, comprising the hinge links I3,which prevent relative rotation of the sealing ring I1 and seating I3,during opening and closing of the cover I4, and when locking is beingeffected, these coacting elements are subjected only to direct pressurewithout sliding upon each other.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an improved closure which is extremely simple,compact and durable in construction, and which is moreover highlyefficient in actual operation. The outer member 24 serves not only as ameans for actuating the latch bar 28 from the exterior of the tank I0,but also conceals and protects the closure plate I4, the valves 35, 36and the hinge links IS. The socketed members 33 and the lugs 3E!coacting with the notches 32, firmly lock the closure covers in closedposition, and the stop 34 functions to effectively hold the latch bar 28against undesirable displacement when the lock has been released,thereby insuring effective closing whenever desired. The improvedassemblage besides presenting a neat and attractive appearance, can beconvieniently operated, and may be manufactured and installed atmoderate cost. The improvement has been found highly satisfactory in.actual commercialpoperation especially when appliedto streamlined'vehicular tank structures.- x l;

Itshould beunderstood that it is .not .desired to limit the invention tothe'iexact details of construction herein shown and described, forvarious modifications within the scope of the claims may occur topersonsyskilled inthe art.

Itis claimed .anddesired to secure byxLe'tters Patent: i 'g M' 11; Incombination, a tank having an inspection .opening therein,' a. `closurei plate swingably supportediby said tank and cooperable with saidopening, a shaft journalled in said plate, a latch bar .carried by saidl`shaft and cooperab-le with Said tank, said` bar bein'g movable in onedirection about the shaft axis tov lock said plate in `closedposition,uamember carried by said shaft and movable relative to said'barfor urging the latter into locking position, and a stop'onhsaid closureplate for positively limiting the reverse movementof said barabout saidaxis.

2. In combination, a tank having an inspection opening therein, aclosure plate swingably supported by said tank and cooperable with saidopening, a shaft journalled in said plate, a latch bar carried by saidshaft and cooperable with said tank, said bar being swingable in onedirection about the shaft laxis to lock said plate in closed position, amember rotatable by said shaft relative to said bar for initially movingthe latter and for subsequently forcing the same into locking position,and a stop on said closure plate for positively limiting the reverseswinging of said bar about said axis.

3. In combination, a` receptacle having an opening provided with aperipheral seating, a closure for said opening, a shaft journalled insaid closure, a latch bar freely slidable along and'l rotatable relativeto said shaft, said latch bar being engageable with sockets on saidreceptacle, and a member secured to the end of said shaft within saidreceptacle and rotatable by said shaft relative to said bar for urgingthe ends of the latter into said sockets to hold said closure againstsaid seating.

4. In combination, a seating, a closure cooperable with said seating, ashaft journalled in said closure, a member for moving said shaft forminga cover for said closure, a latch bar freely slidable along androtatable about said shaft and operable by said member to lock saidclosure against said seating, and stops on said seating and i on saidclosure for limiting the rotary motion of said bar.

5. In combinationan annular seating, a closure plate cooperable withsaid seating, hinge means for swingably supporting said plate7 a shaftslidably journaled in said plate, a member for sliding and rotating saidshaft forming a cover for said plate and for said hinge means, a latchbar carried by said bar and operable by said member tolock said plateagainst said seating, and .a spring coacting with said closure plate andwith said barto constantly urge said shaft lalong its axis.

6. In combinati-on, an annular seating having sockets adjacent theopposite sides thereof, a closure plate cooperable with said seating, ashaft disposed centrally of said plate, a shaft actuating member securedto an end thereof, a

latch bar movably supported by a medial portion of said shaft betweensaid plate and the opposite shaft end and having ends `cooperable withsaid sockets, a latch bar actuator carried by said fo'ppositeendoff'said shaft; and vresilient means 'interposed between said 'plateand said latch bar A'for urging said bar away fromsaid sockets whensaid-actuator: is inactive.

7. In combination, a seating,a closureplate l..

cooperable with said seating, a shaft penetrating said plate,a-shaftactuating member secured to anlen'd thereof on onesiderofsaidplate, a latch bar movably supported `bysaid shaft at theoplpositemsideof said plate and cooperable with 'so'ckets adjacent saidseating, resilient means in- -site end of saidshaft for forcing'said barinto said socketsn opposition to said resilientmeans.

8. In combination, a seating, a closure plate cooperable with saidseating, ashaft penetrating `said plate, a shaft actuating membersecured to .an end thereof on Vone side of said plate, a latch barmovably supported bysaid shaft at the .oppo- "site side of saidplate'and cooperable with sockets adjacent said seating, resilient meansinterposed between said plate and said latch bar for urging said baraway from said sockets, a latch bar actuator associated with theopposite end of said shaft for urging said bar into said sockets inopposition to said resilient means, and means for holding said latch baragainst movement when released from said sockets.

9. In combination, a seating, a closure plate cooperable with saidseating, a shaft penetrating said plate, a shaft actuating membersecured to an end thereof, a spring interposed between said plate'andsaid member for preventing leakage along said shaft,a latch barsupported by a medial portion of said shaft, a second spring interposedbetween said plate and said bar for urging said bar away from saidplate, and a latch bar actuator secured to the opposite end of saidshaft for moving said bar tolatching position in opposition to saidsecond spring.

10. In combination, `a seating, a closure plate cooperable with saidseating, a shaft mounted centrally of said plate, an actuating membersecured to the outer end of said shaft, a leakage preventing springembracing said shaft between said plate and said member, a latch barmovably supported by said shaft, a second spring embracing said shaftbetween said plate and said bar for urging said bar away from saidplate, and means carried by the inner end of said shaft for urging saidbar into clamping position in opposition to said second spring when saidactuating member is manipulated.

11. In combination, a seating, a closure plate cooperable with saidseating, a shaft mounted centrally of said plate, an actuating membersecured to the outer end of said shaft, a leakage preventing springembracing said shaft between said plate and said member, a latch barmovably supported by said shaft, a second spring embracing said shaftbetween said plate and said bar for urging said bar in one direction.means carried by the inner end of said shaft for urging said bar in theopposite direction into clamping position when said actuating member ismanipulated, and a stop carried by said plate for holding said latch barin inactive position.

12. In combination, a frame having a continuous annular seating, aclosure plate cooperable with said seating, a shaft ijournalled in saidplate, a latch bar movably supported by said shaft and cooperable withsockets on said frame, a latch bar actuator secured to said shaft andhaving 'helical surfaces for urging said latch into said sockets uponrotation of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft to operate saidactuator, and means on said actuator for'lockng said bar within saidsockets.

13. In combination, a frame having a continuous annular seating, aclosure plate cooperable with said seating, a shaft journalled insaid'plate, a latch bar movably supported by said shaft and cooperablewith sockets on said frame, a latch bar actuator secured to said shaftand having helical surfaces for urging said latch into said sockets uponrotation of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft to operate saidactuator, means on said actuator for locking said bar within saidsockets, and stop means on said plate for holding said bar in inactiveposition.

14. In combination, a frame having a fixed seating, a closure platecooiperable with said seating, means for permitting movement of saidplate toward and away from said seating While preventing relativerotation of said plate and seating, means providing sockets adjacentsaid seating, a latch bar carried by said plate and cooperable with saidsockets to lock said plate against said seating, and means journaled insaid -plate for initially revolving said bar and for subsequentlyforcing the ends thereof into said sockets.

15. In combination, a frame having a fixed seating, a closure platecooperable with said seating, a hinge for permitting swinging of saidplate toward and away from said seating While preventing rotation ofsaid plate about the axis of said seating, means providing fixed socketsadjacent said seating, a latch bar cooperable with said sockets,actuating means for forcing the ends of said bar into said sockets, saidactuating means being carried by said plate, and resilient meanscoacting with said actuating means for assisting said actuating means inurging said latch bar toward said sockets.

FREDERICK G. THWAITS. RUSSELL RIEBOLDT.

